Nanoor Group of Temples – The Temples

Nanoor Group of Temples – The Temples

The group of temples consists of sixteen temples. It is said that all these temples stands over the mound of the ancestral house of Poet Boru Chandidas called Chandibhita. The mound can be accessed through narrow flight of stairs from the road. There is a modern gate at the entrance at the road side. The famous line of Chandidas “humanity is above all, nothing beyond” is engraved on the modern entrance gate.

The prominent shrine in the group is the Bishalakshmi Temple. The temple is locally known as Basuli Temple. This temple is facing towards south and stands over a low raised platform. The temple consists of sanctum and a mukha mandapa with triple arched entrance. The sanctum enshrines an image of Bishalakshmi / Basuli / Bagisree seated on a wooden throne. The original deity worshipped by Boru Chandidas was lost.

The temple is a flat roofed structure with a nagara style shikara. The shikara has five brass made kalasa and trisula placed upon it. The external walls and the façade are devoid of any terracotta ornamentation. Out of 16 temples, except one flat roofed structure and one Charchala temple, all the other 13 temples and Durga Dalan stands in front of the temple Basuli Temple. The 14 temples enshrines Shiva Lingas.

The twin aatchala temples have considerable terracotta ornamentation on its wall.  These two temples is situated opposite to the Basuli Temple. Also, four Char Chala Temples situated on the left side of the twin aatchala temples has intricate stucco works on them. There are two Char Chala temples on either side of the Durga Dalan on the right side of the twin aatchala temples.

There are five Char Chala temples on the back side of the twin aatchala temples. These five temples are devoid of decoration except two stucco lotus and Ganesha above the entrance of two temples. The flat roofed structure and the aatchala temple stands away from the cluster of the temples near the entrance of the temple premises.

The terracotta ornamentation of the temples depicts Vishnu, Mahishasura Mardini, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Kartik, Ganesh, Krishna Leela, royal processions, war scenes, hunting scenes, social life, floral motifs and geometrical patterns. There is a pond near to this mound. It is believed that Rami used to wash clothes and the poet used to go for fishing.